Relic armour

In Ookalem, relics are more than just ancient artefacts - they are the very embodiment of Radiance, a holy power that can vanquish even the most fearsome foes. Since the time of the first Ladies and Lords, relics to be found deep in ruins buried beneath the polar ice have been held in high esteem by those who follow the ways of the Church. Housed in cleverly designed reliquaries, they yield a Radiance so potent that a single beam can incinerate a moonbeast or leave a sinner with hideous burns.

Originally, reliquaries were part of the temple altars, later carried as weapons by living saints, and now the forgery wonders and artistry of Church mechanics have advanced to the point where they can be built into armour.

Church smiths have experimented extensively with the number of reliquaries and their placement, sometimes achieving incredible results, but one fundamental limitation remains beyond their reach.

The Radiance burns. No reliquary can completely contain it; no single material stops it all. Yes, heavy armour can remain relatively safe for Ladies and Lords, known for their resistance to the holiness of the Radiance, but some of them prefer the more practical and easier-to-wear armour, relying on their speed and agility more than on the durability of metal.

These saints choose cuirasses with a single maximally protected reliquary and try not to wear them all the time. The most fanatical and zealous among them may wear special armour with two or even three reliquaries, at the risk of sustaining injuries and burns wherever the Radiance touches their mortal body. They believe that the power of Radiance is worth any sacrifice and are willing to risk their lives for the chance to wield it against their enemies.

Their life is a perpetual walk on edge. Dependent on the elixirs of communion, they carry the shrines destructive to all evil forces into battle, but the holy flame that accompanies them in battle eventually fills their flesh and blood, tormenting and desiccating their weak bodies.

Their path is short, but the very Radiance illuminates it. And as they stride into battle, the power of the relics burning within them, they know that they are fighting for a cause greater than themselves - the salvation of all believers from the witches, patchwork sorcerers and nameless moon horrors that lurk in the darkness.